Creston Library Board hires marketing consultant

• Marketing Kinetics of Lamoni expected to help board raise funds for $1.8 million Lincoln-to-Library project

Published: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 11:52 a.m. CST

By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor
kwilson@crestonnews.com

Creston Library Board recently signed an 18-month contract with Marketing Kinetics — a strategic marketing firm from Lamoni — hired to help the board in their Lincoln-to-Library fundraising efforts.

This is the second marketing company the library board has hired since fundraising began for the project in 2010.

“We needed some guidance in our fundraising efforts,” said Ann Coulter, president of the Creston Library Board. “They’ve received good reviews locally and are familiar with southwest Iowa. They’re going to get us on track.”

The Lincoln-to-Library project is estimated to cost $1.8 million. Project details include moving the library from its current location on West Howard Street to the Lincoln School building on West Jefferson Street.

Coulter said the $1.8 million raised would go toward renovating the old 17,000 square foot school building to include space for a library, cultural center, social networking areas, technology training centers, conference and community rooms, children area, teen zones, quiet study and group study area.

However, the board has only raised $400,000 for the project in four years.

“There are probably concerns in the community right now as to why the board has hired another marketing consultant,” said Mandy Kolesik, president of Marketing Kinetics. “There is probably a concern there was weak launch in fundraising for this project.

“But, I’m not like the last consultant. I will be on the ground in Creston. I will be visible. My team and I are connected and will find pockets of money for this project. We will work with the library board to develop a vision and find champions within the Creston community to assist us in this capital campaign.”

Kolesik has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development. She has a master’s degree in business. Kolesik said she will run an “extremely aggressive” campaign that will launch sometime in the fall.

Why move the library?

Coulter said the Lincoln-to-Library project is necessary because the current library location — which has 7,800 square feet — is too small for the number of Union County patrons served at the library.

“The library has always been a center of knowledge for our community,” Coulter said. “We just do not have the space to do it anymore at our current location.”

Coulter reiterated the goal of the library board is to raise all funds for the Lincoln-to-Library project privately. Coulter said all donations to the project are tax-deductible. To make a donation, stop at the library’s current location on West Howard Street.